Lady&#39;s garment



Sept. 30, 1947. M. NORTON LADY'S' GARMENT Filed Oct 13, 1944' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 2.

INVENTOR. MARJORIE NORTON BY WW ATTORNEY.

'Sept. 30, 1947. ORTO 2,428,175

LADY S GARMENT 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1944 i 4 Sheets-sheaf 2 INVENTOR. MARJORIE NORTON ATTORNEY.

M. NORTON I LADYS GARMENT Filed 001;. 13, 1944 Sept. 30, 1947.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

MARJORIE NORTON ATTORNEY.

M. NORTON LADYS GARMENT Filed Oct. 15. 1944 I F IG.9.

Sept. 30, 1947.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. MARJORIE NORTON TTRNEY.

Patented Sept. 30, 1947 LADYS GARMENT Marjorie Norton, Clayton, Mo., assignor to Kay Ferer, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 13, 1944, Serial No. 558,517

7 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ladies garments and, more particularly, to a dress having a so-called built-in uplift or breast supporting member.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a dress having a built-in uplift or bust supporting member designed to lift the breasts of the wearer from beneath without completely covering or encasing them.

It is another object of the present; inventionto provide a dress of the type stated in which the uplift or breast supporting construction is adjustable to fit women of various breast-size and also to suit the comfort and individual taste of the wearer.

It is a, further object of the present invention to provide a form of uplift construction which is more or less universally adaptable to all types and styles of ladies dresses and can be utilized with equal facility in high necked dresses or low necked dresses having various types of neck lines.

Numerous other objects, advantages and inherent functions of the present invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description which, taken with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings (four sheets)- Fig. 1 is a view of adress constructed in accordance with and embodying my present inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary broken-away view of the dress showing in more detail the arrangement of the uplift construction as viewed from the front;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary broken-away view of the dress showing in more detail the arrangement of the uplift construction as viewed from the rear;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the uplift member prior to insertion within the dress;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper or bodice portion of a dress having a modified form of uplift construction embodying the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper or bodice portion of a, dress having another modified form of uplift construction embodying the presient invention;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the uplift member formw ing a part of the construction shown in Fig. 6;-

' Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the upper or 'bodice portion of a dress, partly broken-away, showing a further modified form of uplift construction embodying the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper or bodice portion of a dress, partly broken-away, showing a further modified form of uplift con- *struction embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 10 is a' plan view of the uplift member employed in the construction shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a, womans dress or outer garment having a so-called square neck line, as at l. Beneath the arm-pits and on the inside face of the fabric the dress A is provided with two narrow vertical straps 2 forming retaining loops. Loosely threaded through the loops formed by the straps 2 is an uplift band 3 having a narrow breast supporting member 4 which is centrally restricted, as at 5, to provide the currently fashionable divided breast line, and on either side of its mid-point 5 the member 4 is suitably contoured to provide breast supporting sections 6, 6', adapted to fit against the underside of the breasts and support them in upwardly disposed position from beneath. At its opposite ends, the breast supporting member 4 is provided with narrow back straps l, 1, adapted to extend around the back of the wearer and respectively provided with complementary fastening elements, such as buttons 8 and button-holes 8'. It will, of course, be

evident that snaps or hook-and-eye arrangements ican be substituted for the buttons and buttonholes. It will also be apparent that by employing a plurality of buttons 8 and button-holes 8', a lengthwise adjustment can be secured to increase or decrease the size of the uplift band 3 for properly fitting women of larger or smaller size, as

the case may be.

Joined to'the breast supporting portions 6, 6' of the uplift band 3, adjacent to the lines of juncture with the straps l, 7 respectively, are halter straps 9, 9 which are carried upwardly over the front of the'bosom of the wearer and then over the shoulder and around the back of the neck where they are threaded through retaining loops l9, II, fastened to the upper margin of the back panels of the dress respectively on either side of the button placket l2. The halter straps 9, 9 are then crossed over a I the back and brought around the opposite sides of the neck and thence down again over thefront of the bosom to the center of the neck line where they are threaded through a retaining loop l3, which is secured to the bodice of the dress at the center of the neck,

line and to the band 3 at thecenter point 5 thereof, so that the band 3 is thus secured on the inner face of the dress bodice. The halter straps 9, 9', are suitably tied, preferably in the manner of a bow, as at M.

It will be evident that the halter straps 9, 9, may be adjusted each time the dress A is put on so that the upward pull on the uplift band 3 is exerted at three points, namely, the center point 5, and the two points adjacent the arm-pit on either side of the breasts. Furthermore, a greater or lesser amount of tightness and a greater or lesser degree of uplifting may be secured to suit the taste of the wearer by pulling the halter straps 9, 9, up more tightly through the loop l3 so that, in effect, the halter straps 9, 9, are shorter. It will be noted that the ends of the halter straps come down over the front of the bosom forming a V, which serves as part of the design and adds as serving a useful function. If desired, the halter straps 9, 9', may be knotted at the back ofthe neck, as shown at H: in Fig. 5, in which case the center point 5 of uplift strap or band 3 will not be additionally supported by the free ends of halter straps 9, 9'. It will, therefore, be necessary in most cases'to button the back straps '1, l, of the uplift band 3 together so that they will be somewhat tighter than otherwise would be the ,case and, similarly, the halter straps 9, 9, may

be pulled up a little tighter. In all other respects the construction is. identical with that described above.

A modified form of dress 3 may also be provided, as shown in Fig. 6, including an uplift band 3 substantially similar to the previously described uplift'band 3, except that it is provided at its ends with button-holes l6 for engagement with the buttons l'l sewed on the inside of the dress bodice just beneath the arm-pits. The uplift band 3' is provided with halter straps 9 sub- Where it is desiredto employ an uplift con 'struction in accordance with my present invention for a high necked dress, such as the dress C shown in Fig. 8, an uplift band 3, substantially identical in all respects with the previously described uplift band 3, may be used except that at its mid-point 5, it is provided with a buttonhole H] for optional securement with any one of several vertically spaced cloth covered or rubber buttons l9 sewed upon a tape 20 which is, in turn, fastened upon the inner face of the dress bodice in the region of the line of division between the breasts. In the present case the halter straps 9, 9', of the uplift band 3 are fastened at the back of the neck of the wearer as at l5, and the "vertical adjustment of the center point 5 of the uplift band may be secured by engaging the button-hole l8 with a selected one of the buttons 19,

as best seen in Fig.8.

Also, if desired, a modified form of uplift mem- 1 her 3" may be provided which is substantially similar to the uplift member 3' shown in Fig. 5 except that the terminal portions thereof are formed of a strip of elastic 20 and may be seicured on the inside of the dress beneath the armto the artistic appearance of the dress A, as well pits by the lines of stitches 2| as shown in Fig. 9. It may be stated in this connection that the uplift band 3" is provided with halter straps 9, 9', which may be tied at the back of the neck as shownin Fig. 9, or may be brought down across the bosom of the wearer in "V formation, as shown in Fig. 6.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of ladies garments may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Havin thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An cuter garment for female wearers including, in combination, a bodice having a loop secured upon the inner face of the material thereof beneath each of the arm-pits, a bust encircling strap threaded loosely through said loops and having narrow breast supporting sections, adapted to underlie and support from beneath the breasts ofthe wearer, and a free ended strap secured to the upper marginsof said member adjacent'to each of said loops, said strapsbeing adapted to encircle the neck of the wearer in the formation of a halter.

2. An outer garment for female wearers including, in combination, a bodice portion having a neck-openingprovided along its back margin with aplurality of rear loops and along its front margin above thecenter :of the breastline with a front loop, a breast uplift member disposed within thebodice and adapted to engage the under side of the breasts of the wearer, and two straps secured to the uplift member on opposite sides thereof respectively in the region of the sides of the breasts of the wearer, said straps being threaded through the rear loops in opposite dixr'ections so as to cross over each other and being then brought around on opposite sides of the neck -of the wearer and threaded through the front loop and secured therein for adjustably holding said uplift member upwardly whereby to elevate the breasts of the wearer.

-1'nargin above the center of the breastline with a front loop, a breast uplift member disposed within the bodice and adapted to engage the under side --of the breasts of the wearer, and two straps secured to the uplift member on opposite sides thereof respectively in the region of the sides of the breasts of the wearer, said straps being threaded through the rear loops in opposite directions so as to cross over each other and being then brought around on opposite sides of the neck of the wearer and threaded through the front loop, said straps finally being pulled tight through said front loop and tied to suit the needs of the wearer thereby pulling said uplift member upwardly whereby to elevate the breasts of the wearer.

4. An outer garment for female wearers including, in combination, a bodice portion, a cloth strip provided with a plurality of vertically aligned buttons, said strip being secured upon the 'material of the inner face of said bodice in the region of the line of division between the breasts of the wearer, an uplift member having narrow bust-supporting sections adapted to underlie and "support'the br'easts of the wearer, said member having on its front center line an aperture for 5 suitable co-operation with the buttons of said cloth strip, and two straps secured to the said bust-encircling strap on opposite sides thereof respectively in the region of the sides of the breasts of the wearer, said straps being adapted to encircle the neck of the wearer in the formation of a halter for adjustably holding said up-' lift member upwardly whereby to elevate the breasts of the wearer.

5. An outer garment for female wearers including, in combination, a bodice portion having a neck opening provided along its back margin with a plurality of rear loops, an uplift member having narrow breast-supporting sections adapted to underlie and support from beneath the breasts of the wearer, means secured upon the inner face of said bodice adjacent the armholes for holding the uplift member swingably within the bodice, and two straps secured to the uplift member on opposite sides thereof respectively in the region of the sides of the breasts of the wearer, said straps being threaded through the rear loops in opposite directions so as to cross over each other and being then brought around through the front loop and secured therein for adjustably holding said uplift member upwardly whereby to elevate the breasts of the wearer.

6. An outer garment for female wearers comprising, in combination, a bodice, a bust-supporting member adapted to extend supportingly beneath the wearers breasts, said member being swingably held within the bodice beneath the wearers armpits so as to be capable of being swung upwardly about an axi xtending across the bodice from side to side, two free-ended straps respectively secured to the upper margin Of said member in the region of the outer sides of wearers breasts and extending encirclingly around wearers neck in the manner of a halter, said straps being adjustable for drawing said bust-supporting member upwardly and thereby applying uplifting support to the wearers breasts independently of the bodice.

'7. An outer garment for female wearers including, in combination, a bodice portion having a neck opening provided along its back margin with a plurality of rear loops, an uplift member having narrow breast-supporting sections adapted to underlie and support from beneath the breasts of the wearer, the ends of said member terminating at the back of the wearer, one end being provided with a plurality of buttons for suitable co-operation with apertures provided in the other end permitting adjustability, and two straps secured to the uplift member on opposite sides thereof respectively in the region of the sides of the breasts of the wearer, said straps being threaded through the rear loops in opposite directions so as to cross over each other and being then brought around on opposite sides of the neck of the wearer and threaded through the front loop and secured therein for adjustably holding said uplift member upwardly whereby to elevate the breasts of the wearer.

MARJORIE NORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

